After supper, little Eddie Allgire teases his brother D. to tell him
about Santa Claus. D. is cracking walnuts on a flat-iron held
between his knees.
"Is they any Santy Claus, D.?"
"W'y, cert, they is. Who says not?"
"Bunty Rogers says they ain't no sech a person."
"You tell Bunt Rogers that he's a-gittin' too big fer his britches,
an' first thing he knows, he'll whirl round an' see his naked nose.
Tell him I said so."
"Well, is they any Santy Claus?"
"W'y cert. Ain't I a-tellin' you? Laws! ain't you never seen him
yet?"
"I seen that kind of a idol they got down in Plotner's winder."
"Well, he looks jist like that, on'y he's alive."
"Did you ever see him, D.?"
"O-oh, well! Think I'm goin' to tell everything I know? Well, I
guess not."
"Well, but did you now?"
"M-well, that 'd be tellin'."
"Aw, now, D., tell me."
"Look out what you're doin'. Now see that. You pretty near made
me mash my thumb."
"Aw, now, D., tell me. I think you might. I don't believe you
ever did."
"Oh, you don't, hey? Well, if you had 'a saw what I saw. M-m!
Little round eyes an' red nose an' white whiskers, an' heard the
sleigh bells, an' oh, my! them reindeers! Cutest little things!
Stompin' their little feet" Here he stopped, and went on cracking
nuts.
"Tell some more.
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